For Gill resident and Greenfield native Denise Mayo, owning the new ice cream shop Sundae’s at Lena’s is as much about family legacy as it is about frozen treats.
Sundae’s at Lena’s opened its doors on Sunday, June 14 at 231 West Gill Road — the former Oak Ridge Golf Club property, which Mayo purchased in 2019. The shop operates Thursdays through Sundays from noon to 8 p.m.
Named after Mayo’s late mother, Lena, the shop’s title plays off a Sunday night family dinner ritual. It recalls the weekly spaghetti and meatball dinners her mother used to serve. Although Lena died in 2005, Mayo keeps her memory alive through this new venture.
“A lot of people talk about her, and still remember her, because she was really nice and decent person,” Mayo said of her mother.
Sundae’s at Lena’s sits on the old golf course property, which now features a disc golf course and views of Gill’s signature rolling hills. Mayo has even hosted family weddings on the grounds. The shop itself is outfitted with a 1950s retro diner aesthetic, featuring red dining tables, checker-print window accents and retro bar stools that incorporate a piece of the old golf course bar.
“I looked at a lot of photos, and I feel like the retro look reminds me of my mom’s kitchen, like going to dinner there,” Mayo explained.
As for the menu, Mayo sampled frozen desserts from across the region before landing on Maple Valley Creamery in Hadley, which she names the best ice cream in the Valley.
The shop will serve more than 25 hard ice cream flavors, ranging from staples like chocolate and vanilla to unique options like graham cracker crunch and rum raisin. The menu also includes sundaes, frozen yogurt, sorbet, sherbet and low-fat options. Portions come in humorously named sizes, such as “just a taste” for a kiddie scoop or “I deserve this” for two scoops.
Opening the shop has been a long-held dream for Mayo, who wanted to launch an ice cream business on the property ever since she purchased it. While the COVID-19 pandemic stalled her initial progress, the pieces fell into place after she moved to Gill from Conway in August 2024. Following two years of navigating permits and renovations, the shop is finally open.
This marks Mayo’s first solo business venture, and she plans to make it her full-time job. However, it won’t be a one-woman show. Mayo’s daughter, Jenna Elwell, will manage a team of six employees. Elwell explained that they hired people they already knew through the community, friends or family.
“They just reached out to us and wanted to work,” Elwell explained.
Reflecting on the years of hard work it took to open Sundae’s at Lena’s, Elwell is incredibly proud to see her mother succeed while honoring her grandmother’s memory.
“It’s amazing to finally watch it come to life,” she said. “To make it about her mom — she’s going to watch this business run based off living her mom’s legacy — it’s just incredible.”
Mayo has similar hopes for the future. While she eventually wants to expand the shop’s offerings to include food and community events like car shows, concerts or craft fairs, her ultimate goal is to pass something down to her own daughters.
“I envision maybe leaving a legacy to my family,” Mayo said. “My grandchildren will probably work here someday, and I hope this is going to become like some kind of staple in Gill and family-run, and that’s what I hope for.”
For updates on Sundae’s at Lena’s, the shop can be found on Facebook and Instagram.
